Fishing: Lintner advances in Alabama tourney

Guntersville, Ala. — While the number of 20-pound plus limits nose dived from 40 to 29Friday, Jared Lintner squeezed into that group and in the process qualified for a payday for the third time in the 2010 Bassmaster Elite campaign.

The fifth-year Arroyo Grande pro moved up from a tie for 48th place to sole occupancy of 38th place. He did so with his first 20-plus pound limit since leaving California and the first two tournaments on the schedule. His 20-pound, 1-ounce limit increased his two-day total at Lake Guntersville to 39-2. It was his first 20-pound bag in his last eight days of Elite competition.

Lintner is assured of a $10,000 check provided he concludes Saturday’s fishing in 46th place or above. It would mean he has banked $10,000 for the third time in the four times he has competed on the Alabama lake. (Place No. 47 pays only $5,000).

Premium content for only $0.99

The 2009 Rookie of the Year, Billy McCaghren of Arkansas, shot up 27 places in the standings to fourth by weighing the day’s heaviest bass, 6-14, as well as Friday’s heaviest limit, 28-1.

Lintner was one of the eight anglers who were below the 47-man cutoff ranking Thursday who made the cut. Two fishermen who were in the top 10 after day one dropped 45 and 39 places to miss qualifying.

Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., leads the field with a 53-4 total weight and is in uncharted territory. He is threatening to register his second win and fifth straight top five finish, a fete never previously achieved in BASS competition.